Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease

You may already have periodontal disease and not know it yet until your dentist tells you. This condition could call for the care of a periodontist. Periodontal disease can often progress silently, damaging your mouth’s tissues and bones slowly. Understanding the risks of developing this condition can help you improve your oral care. If you want to know what can put you at risk for developing periodontal disease, here are the details.

Bruxism

This condition involves teeth grinding and jaw clenching. The grinding erodes the protective enamel layer. This weakens the natural protection of teeth against bacteria. The force of clenching and grinding strains the jawbone and its surrounding muscles. It destroys the periodontal tissues in a slow and steady way. Receiving treatment for bruxism can lower the risk for severe gum disease.

Poor dental care

Bacteria are always in the mouth. Improper oral care encourages bacteria to do more and more damage. Plaque develops and spreads even below the gumline. It reaches the jawbone and starts to weaken it. This causes infection.

The inflammation and bleeding get worse as the infection progresses. The bacteria then destroy the jawbone and gum tissue. Battling the infection is possible by brushing teeth at least two times a day for two minutes at a time. Flossing and routine dental cleanings can help stop periodontal disease from taking hold.

Chronic diseases

These conditions disrupt the body’s immune system. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers can trigger and worsen periodontal disease. Informing the periodontist about current conditions can help keep an eye on the patient’s dental health. Visiting the dentist more often can reduce the damage to oral tissues.

Unhealthy lifestyle and habits

Tobacco consumption can increase the risk of developing gum and jawbone infections. This product prevents proper blood oxygenation and circulation. Tissue damage from bacterial acids cannot heal right away because of this. Drinking alcoholic drinks also leads to the same consequences.

Stress weakens immunity, preventing the body from warding off bacteria. Combining this with the insufficient intake of proper nutrients can weaken the immune system. This makes it difficult to shield the body from infection. A patient can work with a dentist to help lower their risk of developing oral infections.

Heredity, age, hormones, and medications

Some people inherit their vulnerability to periodontal disease. Other people deal with this condition as they age. Pregnancy increases the body’s defenses against bacteria, causing more inflammation. This results in pregnancy gingivitis. Specific medications also affect oral health by reducing saliva flow and disabling the immune system. Working with the dentist can lower the risk for severe gum disease.